Poss only 1 Team relegated.

[butt lane vale fan]

Listening to Radio 5 606 last night and a Sutton fan was on saying how they were soon playing Macc and if they beat them and win their game in hand they will go top of the National League. However should they finish top, they won't be allowed to enter the football league due to playing on a 3G pitch.

Noticed a few weeks back, the EFL released a statement saying if a club with a 3G surface finished top or got promotion through the Play offs, then they would not be promoted and the team finishing 23rd in L2 would retain their Football League place. At the time didn't think much of it, as Sutton were around 5th, however since they now have a chance of going top or winning any play off game, it may have a bearing.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

I reckon if Sutton finish in the promotion spot they'll relay their pitch. Can't see them turning up the opportunity to become a league club but I suppose you never know.

I don't think we'll finish in the bottom two now either, even if we don't win at Crewe we'll get another 3 or 4 points minimum which will be enough.

[upthevale]

The National League also have it in their rules that if a team declines promotion because they don't comply with the requirements, then that team would be relegated from the National League.

 

Not a chance in the world that any club would be turning down promotion and then allow themselves to be relegated.

 

Waste of radio time even discussing it.

[Jacko51]

Sutton would take the League to court. It is sheer stupidity to say you cannot play on an artificial pitch in League 2 when you can in the Champions League and the World Cup.

[Santa]

Isn’t the FL a members club though? These rules would have been voted through by the 72 chairmen at an AGM. Could Sutton afford to take legal action?

[SuperValiant1876]

Interesting quote in this article from the manager http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/15057395.sutton-chairman-bruce-elliott-we-wont-waste-fa-cup-windfall/ we have no ambitions to become a league 2 club....imagine Aspin saying that about league 1!! So perhaps reading that article they don't want to be promoted .

[londonvale]

Sutton will lay a hybrid pitch as per Newport if they go up. It seems very likely Macc will however win the league.

[mikey]

Thats an old interview. I wonder if they have different priorities now that they have a chance?

[elav trop 1876]

Sutton would take the League to court. It is sheer stupidity to say you cannot play on an artificial pitch in League 2 when you can in the Champions League and the World Cup.

 

Agree--Heard this on the radio too, some good points made like Arsenal played them in the FA cup on the artificial yet cant do it in the league typical fa mixed messages...

 

said also Sutton hire their pitch out every day and is a good income stream--

wonder if the cost to relay and then the income they would lose might make it not viable for promotion

[Fosse69]

Were not L1 and L2 chairmen discussing this, to improve pitch income? OK if you have no ambition or it is not financially viable to play in the Championship unless you have decent backing, or just go for a season. I am sure there are some clubs who would give it a go, the pitches being much better than the 60s versions. As for the FA Cup it should be open to all clubs in the relevant leagues irrespective of their pitch rules.

[Shropshire_Valiant]

I can't see it being long before there's a rule change they are apparently much better than the surfaces Luton, QPR, Oldham and Preston had in the early 90s. I think there's 3 sides in the National league with them. Maidstone and Bromley the other 2 teams and several others teams going down the pyramid. I notice Tamworth have one from viewing Angus's goal on youtube the other day and his former club Redditch have one too(A man who likes an artificial pitch:wink:).

I'm guessing it's a cost thing with maintainence as said I could see a few smaller league clubs giving it a go if it was a allowed!